In queen rearing, feeding is not incidental. If the flow stops, the colony's behaviour changes immediately and acceptance falls.

Why the colony must believe there is a flow

A colony experiencing abundance draws cells and feeds them lavishly. A colony experiencing scarcity does the opposite: it restricts brood rearing and neglects the cells.

Continuous feeding during a rearing round imitates a flow and sustains that behaviour.

When feeding is necessary

• During a forage interruption in the round
• In the starter, which has no supply of its own
• In mating nuclei, which are small and empty quickly
• In royal jelly production, where the colony is continuously drawn upon

With what

• Thin syrup imitates a nectar flow and stimulates
• Fondant in small units and in cooler weather
• Pollen or protein patty if insufficient pollen is coming in

The pollen point

This weighs most and is most often forgotten.

The brood food glands of young bees only work if there is protein. Without pollen the colony makes no proper brood food, however much syrup you give.

A cell builder with plenty of syrup and little pollen produces poor cells.

Robbing

Feeding during a dearth is exactly when robbing begins — and rearing colonies and mating nuclei are the most vulnerable units there are.

• Feed inside the hive, in the late afternoon
• Do not spill
• Reduce entrances
• Feed all units at once

The boundary

Do not feed with supers on. With rearing colonies this rarely arises, but the rule applies in full.